Linux Kernel up to 5.15.85/6.0.15/6.1.1 f2fs include/linux/refcount.h f2fs_start_discard_thread null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.85/6.0.15/6.1.1. Impacted is the function f2fs_start_discard_thread in the library include/linux/refcount.h of the component f2fs. The manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2022-50620. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 5.15.85/6.0.15/6.1.1. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function f2fs_start_discard_thread in the library include/linux/refcount.h of the component f2fs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: f2fs: fix to invalidate dcc->f2fs_issue_discard in error path Syzbot reports a NULL pointer dereference issue as below: __refcount_add include/linux/refcount.h:193 [inline] __refcount_inc include/linux/refcount.h:250 [inline] refcount_inc include/linux/refcount.h:267 [inline] get_task_struct include/linux/sched/task.h:110 [inline] kthread_stop+0x34/0x1c0 kernel/kthread.c:703 f2fs_stop_discard_thread+0x3c/0x5c fs/f2fs/segment.c:1638 kill_f2fs_super+0x5c/0x194 fs/f2fs/super.c:4522 deactivate_locked_super+0x70/0xe8 fs/super.c:332 deactivate_super+0xd0/0xd4 fs/super.c:363 cleanup_mnt+0x1f8/0x234 fs/namespace.c:1186 __cleanup_mnt+0x20/0x30 fs/namespace.c:1193 task_work_run+0xc4/0x14c kernel/task_work.c:177 exit_task_work include/linux/task_work.h:38 [inline] do_exit+0x26c/0xbe0 kernel/exit.c:795 do_group_exit+0x60/0xe8 kernel/exit.c:925 __do_sys_exit_group kernel/exit.c:936 [inline] __se_sys_exit_group kernel/exit.c:934 [inline] __wake_up_parent+0x0/0x40 kernel/exit.c:934 __invoke_syscall arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:38 [inline] invoke_syscall arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:52 [inline] el0_svc_common+0x138/0x220 arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:142 do_el0_svc+0x48/0x164 arch/arm64/kernel/syscall.c:206 el0_svc+0x58/0x150 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:636 el0t_64_sync_handler+0x84/0xf0 arch/arm64/kernel/entry-common.c:654 el0t_64_sync+0x18c/0x190 arch/arm64/kernel/entry.S:581 The root cause of this issue is in error path of f2fs_start_discard_thread(), it missed to invalidate dcc->f2fs_issue_discard, later kthread_stop() may access invalid pointer.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2022-50620 since 12/08/2025. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 5.15.86, 6.0.16 or 6.1.2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 865bb7b5a7deeb0e5afbd82381d52d38825dc64d/a3e517a6ba695d683ee63615e1ea6e6b4c7d2732/ae6c960a82c52c3bda5adc82d90643d6c12d308e/91586ce0d39a05f88795aa8814fb99b1387236b3 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-2756). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• NetApp FAS
• NetApp AFF
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Microsoft Azure Linux

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.0
• 5.15.1
• 5.15.2
• 5.15.3
• 5.15.4
• 5.15.5
• 5.15.6
• 5.15.7
• 5.15.8
• 5.15.9
• 5.15.10
• 5.15.11
• 5.15.12
• 5.15.13
• 5.15.14
• 5.15.15
• 5.15.16
• 5.15.17
• 5.15.18
• 5.15.19
• 5.15.20
• 5.15.21
• 5.15.22
• 5.15.23
• 5.15.24
• 5.15.25
• 5.15.26
• 5.15.27
• 5.15.28
• 5.15.29
• 5.15.30
• 5.15.31
• 5.15.32
• 5.15.33
• 5.15.34
• 5.15.35
• 5.15.36
• 5.15.37
• 5.15.38
• 5.15.39
• 5.15.40
• 5.15.41
• 5.15.42
• 5.15.43
• 5.15.44
• 5.15.45
• 5.15.46
• 5.15.47
• 5.15.48
• 5.15.49
• 5.15.50
• 5.15.51
• 5.15.52
• 5.15.53
• 5.15.54
• 5.15.55
• 5.15.56
• 5.15.57
• 5.15.58
• 5.15.59
• 5.15.60
• 5.15.61
• 5.15.62
• 5.15.63
• 5.15.64
• 5.15.65
• 5.15.66
• 5.15.67
• 5.15.68
• 5.15.69
• 5.15.70
• 5.15.71
• 5.15.72
• 5.15.73
• 5.15.74
• 5.15.75
• 5.15.76
• 5.15.77
• 5.15.78
• 5.15.79
• 5.15.80
• 5.15.81
• 5.15.82
• 5.15.83
• 5.15.84
• 5.15.85
• 6.0.0
• 6.0.1
• 6.0.2
• 6.0.3
• 6.0.4
• 6.0.5
• 6.0.6
• 6.0.7
• 6.0.8
• 6.0.9
• 6.0.10
• 6.0.11
• 6.0.12
• 6.0.13
• 6.0.14
• 6.0.15
• 6.1.0
• 6.1.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Discussion